Workshops

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

My Fearless Faces have been reproduced and made into a beautiful series of eight cards. I'm so excited at how they turned out. These guys are colorful, fierce, goofy, whimsical, vibrant, and sometimes scary depending on the face, but they are all fearless. A few of the original Fearless Faces art will be available at the upcoming Open Doors Show and Sale (which starts this Friday!) and lots of cards will be for sale.

The original works of art on repurposed and recycled boards.

The cards.

Cards will be available to purchase individually, or in two different sets: set of four from my Fearless Faces journal pages or a set of four from my original pieces of art.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

I finally made it to the Facing Fear show at Launch Pad Gallery in SE Portland where I have one of my Fearless Faces on display (which has sold, but that story is at the end of this post). The show comes down on Saturday, so I wanted to be sure I got to see it before it is no more.

The show was an open-call for artists to create something with the theme of Facing Fear. I've faced a lot of fear with painting faces, so I immediately knew I wanted to submit one of my Fearless Faces. I've been creating my faces in a large atlas for a while now, but only recently started painting them on repurposed and recycled boards. The piece I submitted was titled: Fearless Faces #1.

My daughter Amy, her husband Mike, and our grandkids Jackson and Emmett made the trek down to the gallery with me.

My wonderful and supportive husband who loves my Fearless Faces so so much.

The Story of Fearless Faces #1 Being Sold

I've been making cards using prints from my original series of Fearless Faces, both from my FF journal and from the faces I'm creating on repurposed boards. The very first card I made, my prototype, I sent to my friend Sven Bonnichsen of Scarlet Star Studios as his birthday card. He was so smitten with the image, that he sent me this message:

When the gallery opened at noon, I immediately called...YES, the volunteer had just shown up... So I raced into town in Trixie... And there it was: Fearless Faces I, hanging on the wall.

Except, now there's a green dot beside it. Because I've gone and purchased that painting. :-)

Oh, if only I could have taken it off the wall there and then, and be writing you that I'd just hung it up here at home... But I must wait patiently.

It's not often I have a strong reaction to a painting -- and rarer still that I make a purchase. Wonderful, inspiring work, Dayna!

I was humbled by Sven's words and gesture . . . and already missing Fearless Face #1. But at least I know where it resides and I'm sure Sven would let me visit on occasion.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

I wanted to call my latest creations Tattered Angels, but then I remembered that is the name of a company that sells art products. So I was thinking about calling them Shabby Angels, but with all the shabby chic hoopla, it wasn't very original. So I went to the dictionary, then the thesaurus, looking up the words shabby and tattered -- the results were rather dismal and depressing, and since my angels aren't any of that, I decided to simply call them Word Angels. Introducing my first batch of Word Angels (they'll be for sale at the upcoming Portland Art CollectiveOpen Doors Show and Sale in just one short week . . .).

Some of the details include hand cut copper wings, to which I rusted and added lovely green and blue patinas and real German glass glitter on the base (which should tarnish over time). And each one has one of my favorite words stamped on her chest. Here's a peek inside my studio at their creation.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Last night was the November gathering of the Orange Dream Monkeys, my visual journaling group. Our theme for the night was Yellow Freedom Shoes, although only Candace did a page using that as her inspiration. Shelby provided healthy treats AND a beautiful gift of her photography for each of us.

The evening was spent in a glorious mess of creativity, laughter, and just a bit of naughtiness.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

My friend Peshe is dying. I met Peshe in February of 2008 at an 8-week Phenomenal Women's Journal group in Portland. We clicked and remained in touch. Through the past three years, we've taken classes together, Peshe took a class from me, and I sat with Peshe as she underwent a round of chemo at OHSU. A while back, Peshe mentioned that she wanted me to have some of her art things, then a couple of weeks ago Peshe called me from hospice to say that she had sorted through her belongings and had a collection of stuff she wanted me to have. On Monday of this week, Peshe's friends Philip and Keith delivered the first of a couple of loads. I spent Tuesday afternoon going through the boxes and bins. I cried throughout most of the process because Peshe had not only shared amazing art supplies, but she entrusted me with all of her family photos and memorabilia. When I talked to her that evening, she said she knew that whatever she gave to me would find its way into the world, either through the sharing and use of the supplies or through my art work. I was told emphatically by Peshe to do whatever I wanted with the photos and documents - they were not to be treated as if they were precious. I snapped some photos as I unpacked the boxes - I wanted to record Peshe's generosity of not only her stuff, but of her spirit. This first photo is of the journal we made in our very first class together, complete with art, notes, and dreams.

What Peshe entrusted to me is almost too overwhelming, which I told Peshe when I spoke with her. She thanked me for being so whelmed.

Alley Art Studio

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About Me

I am a woman trying to navigate being 50-something, to not dwell too much on getting older, and reminding myself constantly to live in the moment. I am a woman who loves books, reading, and used bookstores (especially Powell's in downtown Portland). I am a woman who is discovering art after years of raising kids, working, and going to school. I am a woman who loves collage, painting, mixed media, and assemblage. I am a woman who loves gunkholing in junk stores and picking trash up off the street just for the thrill of its possibilities. I am a woman who has a mantra to BE BOLD.